Iris Pontica Zapal

Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii „Al. I. Cuza” Iaşi http://www.bio.uaic.ro/publicatii/anale_vegetala/anale_veg_index.html s. II a. Biologie vegetală, 2013, 59, 1: 45-51 ISSN: 1223-6578, E-ISSN: 2247-2711

IRIS PONTICA ZAPAL. IN MOLDOVA’S FLORA (ROMANIA)

Irina IRIMIA1, Ciprian MÂNZU1

Abstract: The paper points out the presence of Iris pontica Zapal. in Moldova’s territory (Romania), tracking at the same time the species distribution in Romania, using herbarium materials and existing bibliographic sources. The plant association in wich I. pontica had been identified is Taraxaco serotinae – Festucetum valesiacae. Keywords: Iris pontica, rare species, chorology, Moldova, SCI Movila lui Burcel.

Introduction

Iris pontica Zapal. (Iris humilis M. Bieb., non Georgi) is a perenial (geophyte), with a simple stem, 1-4 cm long (without the flower). Bazal leaves 10-45 cm x 2-5 mm. Membranaceous spathes. Flowers solitary, purplish, variegated with white, yellow, or brown. Falls 45-55 x 15-18 mm; limb obovate-orbicular; claw spathulate, as wide as the limb. Standards 35-50 x 8-12 mm, oblanceolate. The upper portion of the ovary, sterile, forming a rostrum 18-25 mm long. Ellipsoidal capsule, with six inconspicuous longitudinal ridges (Webb and Chater, 1980). It is a heliophytic species, xeromezophytic, growing on dry neutral soils, on sunny meadows from the oak floor to the sessile oak floor (Dihoru and Negrean, 2009; Ciocârlan, 2009; Sârbu et al., 2013). I. pontica is a Pontic, continental element, the geographical area of this species spreading from Transylvania (Romania) to Central and South-Western Asia (Webb and Chatter, 1980; Dihoru and Negrean, 2009). It is mentioned on the Moldova Republicʼs teritory (Webb and Chatter, 1980; Negru et al., 2002 - as endangered species), Ukrainaʼs teritory (Webb and Chatter, 1980; Mosyakin and Feredonchuk, 1999 - as vulnerable species). It is also considered vulnerable in the South-Western Russia (Stavropol Territory - Shevchenko, 2002). In Romaniaʼs flora, I. pontica is a rare species (Oprea, 2005; Ciocârlan, 2009), found in the Red list of superior plants from Romania (Oltean et al., 1994), placed in the rare and vulnerable sozological category (V/R) as well as in the Red book of vascular plants from Romania (Dihoru and Negrean, 2009), in the critically endangered category (CR). On Romaniaʼs territory, I. pontica had been signaled only in Transylvania, in Bistrița-Năsăud, Cluj, Mureș and Sibiu counties (Oprea, 2005; Dihoru and Negrean, 2009). From the phytocoenological point of view, it is a steppic species, typical of Festuco- Brometea Class, Festucetalia valesiacae Order (Sanda et al., 2003; Krytsʹka et al., 2009; Sârbu et al., 2013).

1 “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Faculty of Biology, Bd. Carol I, no. 11, Iași - 700506, Romania; [email protected] (corresponding author)

Irimia, I., Mânzu, C., 2013/ An. Stiint. Univ. Al. I. Cuza Iasi, Sect. II a. Biol. veget., 59, 1: 45-51

Materials and methods

The identification of the taxa has been done using the following papers: Flora R.S.R., vol. XI; Flora Europaea, vol. 5; Flora României, vol. II (Beldie, 1977); Flora ilustrată a României – Pteridophyta et Spermatophyta (Ciocârlan, 2009); Plante vasculare din România: determinator ilustrat de teren (Sârbu et al., 2013). In order to identify the vegetal association in wich I. pontica is present, we used the central-european phytosociological school method (Cristea et al., 2004; Chifu et al., 2006). The distribution of I. pontica species in Romania, had been made based on datas from the herbarium collections (BUCA, CL, I, IASI) (Thiers, 2012) and also different bibliographycal sources. The collected material was registered and stored in „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Universityʼs Herbarium (I), from Iaşi.

Figure 1. Iris pontica

Irimia, I., Mânzu, C., 2013/ An. Stiint. Univ. Al. I. Cuza Iasi, Sect. II a. Biol. veget., 59, 1: 45-51

Results and discussions

The species had been identified in the botanical reservation Movila lui Burcel (Miclești commune, Vaslui county), in the upper hill area, at a altitude of 270-272 m, on the N-NW slope (46º50'52"N, 27°48'07"E – 46°50'54"N, 27°48'07"E), the population spreading on a small area (7 points). The species was first noticed in may 2005 and then reconfirmed in 2013 (Fig. 1). The area was previously studied, floristically and phytocoenologically (Dobrescu and Leocov, 1982; Blaj, 2003), but I. pontica was not recorded, maybe by confusion with I. graminea L. (I. graminea, I. pumila L., I. aphylla L. were described by Dobrescu and Leocov). The Movila lui Burcel reservation had been declared a Site of Community Importance in Natura 2000 Network (ROSCI0117). The site preserves a rest of western- Pontic steppic meadow (Habitat 62C0* - Ponto-Sarmatic steppes), having a high conservation value (Mănoiu and Brânzan, 2013). Phytocoenologycally, I. pontica had been included in the Taraxaco serotinae- Festucetum valesiacae (Burduja et al. 1956, Răvăruț et al. 1956) Sârbu, Coldea et Chifu 1999 association (Table 1).

Table 1. Taraxaco serotinae-Festucetum valesiacae (Burduja et al. 1956, Răvăruţ et al. 1956) Sârbu, Coldea et Chifu 1999

Survey no. 1 Altitude (m.o.s.) 270 Exposure N-NW Slope (º) 8 Surface (m2) 15 General cover of vegetation (%) 95 Associationʼs characteristics Festuca valesiaca 4 Taraxacum serotinum + Jurineo arachnoideae-Euphorbinenion nicaeensis Artemisia austriaca + Astragalus dasyanthus + Euphorbia glareosa + Phlomis tuberosa + Festucion valesiacae Adonis volgensis + Agropyron cristatum ssp. pectinatum + Cleistogenes serotina + Iris pontica + Marrubium peregrinum + Phlomis herba-venti ssp. pungens + Salvia nemorosa + Teucrium polium ssp. capitatum + Viola ambigua + Festucetalia valesiacae Achillea setacea + Adonis vernalis + Astragalus onobrychis +

Irimia, I., Mânzu, C., 2013/ An. Stiint. Univ. Al. I. Cuza Iasi, Sect. II a. Biol. veget., 59, 1: 45-51

Campanula sibirica + Elymus hispidus ssp. hispidus 1 Fragaria viridis + Minuartia setacea + Onobrychis viciifolia + Oxytropis pilosa + Poa bulbosa + Stachys recta + Stipa capillata + Teucrium chamaedrys + Verbascum phoeniceum + Stipion lessingianae Salvia nutans + Festuco-Brometea Acinos arvensis + Arenaria serpyllifolia + Asperula tenella + Berteroa incana + Eryngium campestre + Filipendula vulgaris + Galium mollugo + Galium verum + Medicago falcata + Myosotis stricta + Phleum phleoides + Plantago media + Salvia pratensis ssp. pratensis + Thalictrum minus + Trifolium campestre + Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Dactylis glomerata + Elymus repens + Lotus corniculatus + Prunella vulgaris + Stellarietea mediae Convolvulus arvensis + Lappula squarrosa + Nigella arvensis + Papaver rhoeas ssp. rhoeas + Viola arvensis + Variae syntaxa Agrimonia eupatoria + Carex michelii + Elaeagnus angustifolia + Erysimum repandum + Robinia pseudoacacia + Rosa canina +

Place and data of the survey: Movila lui Burcel Hill, 22.06.2013

The species distribution in Romania is shown in Table 2.

Irimia, I., Mânzu, C., 2013/ An. Stiint. Univ. Al. I. Cuza Iasi, Sect. II a. Biol. veget., 59, 1: 45-51

Table 2. Distribution of Iris pontica in Romania

County Locality Source Alba Alecuş, SV, dealul Vârful Zăpodii 24.05.1962 , leg. & det. ? (I 67664, 67667, 67668, 67669, 67670, 67671, 67672) Medveş, SV, coastă 23.05.1962, leg. & det. ? (I 39945, 39946, 67663) Pănade, NV, coastă SV pe Dealul Mărtineşti 21.05.1962 , leg. & det. ? (I 39947, 39948) Valea Sadului, N, coastă ± uscată 11.07.1962 , leg. & det. ? (I 67665) Bistriţa- Baţa (FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, Năsăud 2009 Cluj Exs. In graminosis montis Ciuha, supra pagum 22.05.1924, leg. & det. I. Apahida, alt. cca 370 m s. m. Prodan, (CL 445489, 623539; I 32984, 47165 IASI 9608) FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Bonţida (pe dl. „Urieşul”) Oprea, 2005 Cătina 1868, leg. V. Janka (CL 7813) Iclod , N, coastă pe Dealul Mărtineşti 21.05.1962, leg. & det. ? (I 67666, 67673, 67674, 67675) Iuriu de Câmpie pe dl. „La Cârligaţi” Oprea, 2005 Jucu pe dl. Techeneu Oprea, 2005 Năsal (FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Puini (FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Suatu 1917, leg. M. Peterfi (CL 79546, 119774) FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Sucutard 1876, leg. V. Janka (CL 97590) Ţăgşor (FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Turda 1887, leg. J. Wolff (CL 120307), 1899, leg. J. Wollf (CL 15142) FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Turda pe dl. Gorgan leg. J. Wolff (CL 130433), FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Văleni, S, dl. Seleşului (Puşcaş Mihai, 2010) Viişoara (Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Între Cojocna şi Boju pe dl. Codorestea Oprea, 2005 Între Straja Mică şi Crairât Halău Oprea, 2005

Irimia, I., Mânzu, C., 2013/ An. Stiint. Univ. Al. I. Cuza Iasi, Sect. II a. Biol. veget., 59, 1: 45-51

Între Căianu şi Sutu pe dl. Văratic Oprea, 2005 Între Sucutard şi Cătina (FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Între Geaca şi Mociu (FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Între Agărbici şi Luncani (FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Mureş Zau de Câmpie (FRSR, Dihoru et Negrean, 2009 Sibiu Beneşti (FRSR, Oprea, 2005 Vaslui Micleşti-Movila lui Burcel 29.05.2005, leg. I. Blaj, det. I. Blaj & C. Mânzu (I Rezervaţia Movila lui Burcel, 46º50'53,8" N, 120728) 027º48'07,5" E 19.05.2013, leg. & det. I. Irimia (I 181695)

Conclusions

This is the first record of Iris pontica in Moldova (Romania), in Movila lui Burcel reservation. Also, after processing the herbarium materials, we recorded the species in Alba county (Transylvania). As a result of our observations, we consider Iris pontica as a threatened species in this site, mainly because of the presence of Elaeagnus angustifolia and Robinia pseudoacacia, species cultivated for stabilizing the land.

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank to curators of BUCA, CL, IASI. Also, we are grateful to Dr. Mihai Pușcaș, for unpublished chorological datas.

REFERENCES

Beldie, Al., 1977. Flora României. Determinator ilustrat al plantelor vasculare. II. Edit. Acad. R.S.R., Bucureşti. Blaj, I., 2003. Meadow associations in the Vaslui River Basin (I). Rev. Roum. Biol. - Biol. Végét. 48, 1-2, Bucharest: 95-104. Chifu, T., Mânzu, C., Zamfirescu, O., 2006. Flora şi vegetaţia Moldovei. II. Edit. Univ. „Al. I. Cuza”, Iaşi: 304- 352. Ciocârlan, V., 2009. Flora ilustrată a României. Pteridophyta et Spermatophyta. Edit. Ceres, Bucureşti. Cristea, V., Gafta, D., Pedrotti, F., 2004. Fitosociologie. Edit. Presa Universitară Clujeană, Cluj-Napoca. Dihoru, Gh., Negrean, G., 2009. Cartea roşie a plantelor vasculare din România. Edit. Acad. Rom., Bucureşti: p. 294. Dobrescu, C., Leocov, M., 1982. Contribuţii floristice în rezervaţia “Movila lui Burcel” - Micleşti (jud. Vaslui). Culeg. Stud. Artic. Biol., Grăd. Bot. Iaşi. 2: 211-221. Krytsʹka, L.I., Novosad, V.V., Voronova, S.M., Shcherbakova, O.F., 2009. Iris pontica Zapal., in: Didukha, Y.P. (Ed.). Chervona n ha ra n . Rosl nn svit. Kiev: p. 130. (in Ukrainian) Mănoiu, T., Brânzan, T., 2013. Catalogul habitatelor, speciilor şi siturilor Natura 2000 în România. Edit. Fundaţia Centrul Naţional pentru Dezvoltare Durabilă, Bucureşti: p. 425. Mosyakin, L.S., Feredonchuk, M.M., 1999. Vascular plants of Ukraine. A nomenclatural checklist. M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev: p. 130. Negru, A., Şabanov, G., Cantemir, V., Gânju, Gh., Ghendov, V., Baclanoc, V., 2002. Plantele rare din flora spontană a Republicii Moldova. CE USM, Chişinău: p. 107.

Irimia, I., Mânzu, C., 2013/ An. Stiint. Univ. Al. I. Cuza Iasi, Sect. II a. Biol. veget., 59, 1: 45-51

Oltean, M., Negrean, G., Popescu, A., Roman, N., Dihoru, G., Sanda, V., Mihăilescu, S., 1994. Lista roşie a plantelor superioare din România. Studii, sinteze, documentaţii de ecologie. 1. Acad. Rom., Institutul de Biologie. Oprea, A., 2005. Lista critică a plantelor vasculare din România. Edit. Univ. „Al. I. Cuza”, Iaşi: p. 488. Prodan, I., Nyárády, E.I., 1966. Iridaceae, in: Săvulescu, T. (Ed.). Flora R.S.R., XI. Edit. Acad. R.S.R., Bucureşti: 454-527. Sanda, V., Biță-Nicolae, C.D., Barabaș, N., 2003. Flora cormofitelor spontane și cultivate din România. Edit. „Ion Borcea”, Bacău: p. 242. Sârbu, I., Ştefan, N., Oprea, A., 2013. Plante vasculare din România: determinator ilustrat de teren, Edit. victorBvictor, Bucureşti: p. 996. Shevchenko, G.T., 2002. Iris marschalliana Bobr., in: Panasenko, N.S. (Ed.). Red Book of the Stavropol Territory. I. Plants. Stavropol, Poligraphservice: p. 224. (in Russian) Thiers, B. [continuously updated]. Index Herbariorum: A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden's Virtual Herbarium. http://sweetgum.nybg.org/ih/. Webb, D.A., Chater, A.O., 1980. Iris L., in: Tutin, T.G. (Ed.). Flora Europaea, V. Cambridge University Press: 87-92.